Janet Barnett was sent to the Central Africa Republic where she worked as a math teacher. "I was at a secondary school teaching math using the French system," she said. Barnett taught for two years and discovered that she actually liked teaching. "I found that I really loved teaching," she said during a recent interview from her office at CSU-Pueblo. "I liked the challenge of teaching higher level mathematics." After her two years in Africa, Barnett returned to school and obtained a master's and doctoral degrees in mathematics at the University of Colorado.

Barnett, who received a double major in math and humanities from CSU-Fort Collins, in fact, had written in a report for an education class that she could never see herself as a teacher.

But now, the college math professor can't see herself doing anything but teaching.

"I love teaching," Barnett says. "Every time I step into the classroom, it's a great feeling. I know that's where I'm suppose to be."

She has been teaching math at CSU-Pueblo since 1990 and recently was honored for her teaching by the CSU System Board of Governors.

Barnett received the Excellence in Teaching award, which is awarded annually to a top professor at both CSU-Pueblo and CSU-Fort Collins.

Barnett said she was humbled to receive the award.

"I was really surprised at how much this meant to me," she said. "I hadn't realized how much teaching meant to me until I got this award. It's an honor to be recognized by people you respect."

Barnett, a 1978 graduate of Central High School, said her plan was to major in engineering and work in that field.

Midway through her undergraduate studies, however, Barnett said she realized that engineering wasn't something she really wanted to do.

She changed her major to math and considered possibly becoming a teacher. But after taking an introductory education course, she changed her mind.

"I remember we had to write a paper on the course at the end of the semester. I wrote that there was no way I was cut out to be a teacher. I didn't see myself as a teacher."

Still, teaching kept calling her name.

Shortly after graduating from college, Barnett followed a dream and joined the Peace Corp. She was sent to the Central Africa Republic where she worked as a math teacher.

"I was at a secondary school teaching math using the French system," she said. Barnett taught for two years and discovered that she actually liked teaching.

"I found that I really loved teaching," she said during a recent interview from her office at CSU-Pueblo. "I liked the challenge of teaching higher level mathematics."

After her two years in Africa, Barnett returned to school and obtained a master's and doctoral degrees in mathematics at the University of Colorado.

In 1990, she applied for a position at CSU-Pueblo, was hired and has been teaching a variety of math courses since.

"I was blessed to have this position come up when it did," she said. "This is the kind of university that I wanted to be at."

Barnett has taught most of the courses that are offered at the undergraduate level, including several teacher education courses.

"I've done a lot of work with prospective teachers," she said. "One of the course I teach is the "History of Mathematics," which is a pretty cool course."

But, Barnett isn't focused only on teaching. She wants to make math fun, or at least understandable to her students.

In recognizing her with the Excellence in Teaching award, Barnett was lauded for her ability to engage students and help learn math.

Barnett credits her enthusiasm for the subject in helping to create a more positive learning atmosphere.

"I really love math, but I also really love teaching math," she said. "This is going to sound strange, but I'm intrigued by watching people learn math."

Barnett said she is aware of the stigma that math has in that many students say they hate it or are not good at it.

She enjoys the challenge of helping those students understand math.

"I think I create a classroom environment where people feel confident in taking risks," she said. "It depends on the class, but I also try to do a lot of group work and interactive work."

Barnett said she also wants students to ask questions and devotes a lot of time out of class in helping students become successful in math. "I try to be as accessible as I can to the students," she said. "I help set up study groups and I have lots of office hours."

Barnett said for struggling students, she also set up one-on-one interviews to help the students work through the problems.

"I don't know if this helps students leave the class liking it but my hope is that they leave feeling like they are learning something."

In addition to teaching Barnett has been involved in scholarly activities relating to math. She has published several papers on the history of mathematics and is very involved in projects focusing on math education.

"I love it and I don't want to stop learning," she said.

In addition to the Excellence in Teaching award, Barnett also was honored this year with the Outstanding Woman Award. She was nominated for the honor by the CSU-Pueblo Women's Studies program.

Barnett twice has been named the outstanding faculty for CSU-Pueblo's College of Math and Science. She earned the award in 1995 and again in 2002.

"It's been an amazing career," she said. "I guess I was meant to teach after all."

When this story was posted in September 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Chris Shays Shifts to Favor an Iraq TimetableIn a policy shift, RPCV Congressman Chris Shays, long a staunch advocate of the Bush administration's position in Iraq, is now proposing a timetable for a withdrawal of American troops. How Mr. Shays came to this change of heart is, he says, a matter of a newfound substantive belief that Iraqis need to be prodded into taking greater control of their own destiny under the country’s newly formed government. As Chairman of the House Government Reform subcommittee on national security, he plans to draft a timetable for a phased withdrawal and then push for its adoption. A conscientious objector during the Vietnam War who said that if drafted he would not serve, Chris Shays has made 14 trips to Iraq and was the first Congressman to enter the country after the war - against the wishes of the Department of Defense.

Peace Corps' Screening and Medical ClearanceThe purpose of Peace Corps' screening and medical clearance process is to ensure safe accommodation for applicants and minimize undue risk exposure for volunteers to allow PCVS to complete their service without compromising their entry health status. To further these goals, PCOL has obtained a copy of the Peace Corps Screening Guidelines Manual through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and has posted it in the "Peace Corps Library." Applicants and Medical Professionals (especially those who have already served as volunteers) are urged to review the guidelines and leave their comments and suggestions. Then read the story of one RPCV's journey through medical screening and his suggestions for changes to the process.

Gates charity races to spend billionsWarren E. Buffett’s gift of $31 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation means that for tax reasons, starting in 2009, the foundation must distribute $3 billion annually, or a little more than twice what it distributed last year.

PCOL Comment: The Foundation says that "preventing the spread of HIV is the most durable long-term solution to the AIDS epidemic, and a top priority for the foundation." Peace Corps Volunteers and Returned Volunteers have been doing just that in AIDS Education for the past 15 years. Why not consider a $100M annual contribution to the Peace Corps to put 2,500 additional volunteers in the field to expand AIDS education worldwide?

PCOL Comment: Congratulations to the Bush administration for an inspired choice for Peace Corps Director. Ron Tschetter is not only an RPCV but was Chairman of the NPCA. Best wishes to Mr. Tschetter on his future tenure as Director of the Peace Corps.

The Peace Corps is "fashionable" againThe LA Times says that "the Peace Corps is booming again and "It's hard to know exactly what's behind the resurgence." PCOL Comment: Since the founding of the Peace Corps 45 years ago, Americans have answered Kennedy's call: "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." Over 182,000 have served. Another 200,000 have applied and been unable to serve because of lack of Congressional funding. The Peace Corps has never gone out of fashion. It's Congress that hasn't been keeping pace.

Changing the Face of HungerIn his new book, Former Congressman Tony Hall (RPCV Thailand) says humanitarian aid is the most potent weapon the United States can deploy against terrorism. An evangelical Christian, he is a big believer in faith-based organizations in the fight against hunger. Members of Congress have recently recommended that Hall be appointed special envoy to Sudan to focus on ending the genocide in Darfur.

PC will not return to East Timor in 2006Volunteers serving in East Timor have safely left the country as a result of the recent civil unrest and government instability. Latest: The Peace Corps has informed us that at this time, the Peace Corps has no plans to re-enter the country in 2006. The Peace Corps recently sent a letter offering eligible volunteers the opportunity to reinstate their service in another country.

Chris Dodd considers run for the White HouseSenator Chris Dodd plans to spend the next six to eight months raising money and reaching out to Democrats around the country to gauge his viability as a candidate. Just how far Dodd can go depends largely on his ability to reach Democrats looking for an alternative to Hillary Clinton. PCOL Comment: Dodd served as a Volunteer in the Dominican Republic and has been one of the strongest supporters of the Peace Corps in Congress.

Peace Corps stonewalls on FOIA requestThe Ashland Daily Tidings reports that Peace Corps has blocked their request for information on the Volkart case. "After the Tidings requested information pertaining to why Volkart was denied the position — on March 2 — the newspaper received a letter from the Peace Corps FOIA officer stating the requested information was protected under an exemption of the act." The Dayton Daily News had similar problems with FOIA requests for their award winning series on Volunteer Safety and Security.

PCOL readership increases 100%Monthly readership on "Peace Corps Online" has increased in the past twelve months to 350,000 visitors - over eleven thousand every day - a 100% increase since this time last year. Thanks again, RPCVs and Friends of the Peace Corps, for making PCOL your source of information for the Peace Corps community. And thanks for supporting the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come.

History of the Peace CorpsPCOL is proud to announce that Phase One of the "History of the Peace Corps" is now available online. This installment includes over 5,000 pages of primary source documents from the archives of the Peace Corps including every issue of "Peace Corps News," "Peace Corps Times," "Peace Corps Volunteer," "Action Update," and every annual report of the Peace Corps to Congress since 1961. "Ask Not" is an ongoing project. Read how you can help.

RPCV admits to abuse while in Peace CorpsTimothy Ronald Obert has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a minor in Costa Rica while serving there as a Peace Corps volunteer. "The Peace Corps has a zero tolerance policy for misconduct that violates the law or standards of conduct established by the Peace Corps," said Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez. Could inadequate screening have been partly to blame? Mr. Obert's resume, which he had submitted to the Peace Corps in support of his application to become a Peace Corps Volunteer, showed that he had repeatedly sought and obtained positions working with underprivileged children. Read what RPCVs have to say about this case.

Why blurring the lines puts PCVs in dangerWhen the National Call to Service legislation was amended to include Peace Corps in December of 2002, this country had not yet invaded Iraq and was not in prolonged military engagement in the Middle East, as it is now. Read the story of how one volunteer spent three years in captivity from 1976 to 1980 as the hostage of a insurrection group in Colombia in Joanne Marie Roll's op-ed on why this legislation may put soldier/PCVs in the same kind of danger. Latest: Read the ongoing dialog on the subject.

Read the stories and leave your comments.

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Story Source: The Pueblo Chieftain

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Central African Republic; Mathematics; Awards

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